Portable asphalt plant lifting and supporting mechanism



W. WRIGHT Sept. 18, 1962 PORTABLE ASPHALT PLANT LIFTING AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 18, 1958 United States Patent 3,054,601 PORTABLE ASPHALT PLANT LIFTING AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM Wilbur Wright, 3800 Wood St., Lansing, Mich. Filed Sept. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 761,890 3 Claims. (Cl. 259-159) This invention relates to a portable asphalt plant, such as disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 761,871, filed September 18, 1958, now abandoned, of which this application may be considered a continuation in part.

An object of this invention is to provide simple and economical means for erecting the tower section of a portable asphalt plant.

Another object of this invention is to provide means which serve as permanent supports for the sections after the portable asphalt plant has been set up for operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means, integrated with a portable asphalt plant, which obviate the necessity for using an independent crane, or other special lifting machinery.

Another object of the invention is to generally improve portable asphalt making machinery, and to provide lifting and supporting mechanisms, which are simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and efiicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable asphalt plant with self-contained means for more firmly stabilizing the plant, when it is set up for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism, which assists in the quick assembling and setting up of a portable asphalt plant.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable asphalt plant with means for articulating the two main sections of the plant for easy transportation, which means also serve as part of the locking mechanism for the sections, when the portable asphalt plant is finally erected and set up for operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable asphalt plant, with means for cooperating with a winch equipped tractor, whereby the power of the tractor is utilized for the dual purpose of towing the portable plant, and erecting the tower section, when the device is being readied for operation.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portable asphalt plant being towed by a winch equipped tractor.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the stabilizing elements in position on the drier section, and the lifting mechanism being readied for use on the tower section.

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2, but showing the tower section being elevated into final operating position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the elevator section in elevated position and ready for operation.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail, in perspective, showing part of the lifting and stabilizing mechanism for the tower section, in relation to the towing tractor.

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Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that in the embodiment hereindisclosed, reference character 7 indicates the drier section, and the reference character '8 indicates the tower section, of a portable asphalt plant, such as disclosed in my copending application referred to above, to which reference is made for greater certainty as to the details of construction. The drier section 7 is supported, for transportation, by means of a plurality of wheels 9, and the tower sec tion 8 is supported, at one end, by the drier section 7, and at the other end, by means of a tractor 10, which is provided with conventional wheels 11, afifth wheel supporting member 12, and a winch 13. The tower section 8 has a frame, the extension 14, of which has means 15, to engage the fifth wheel 12 of the tractor 10. The rear end of the tower section 8 is pivoted, as at 15A, to the drier section 7, and is further secured to the drier section 7, by means of metal plates 16, which are bolted, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to the respective sections 7 and 8, when the asphalt plant is being transported from place to place.

The hot elevator 17 is mounted, at one end, in the drier section 7, and at the other end in the tower section 8, and is slack adjusted as at 18, as is more particularly described in my co-pending application. The drier section 7 is provided with stabilizers 19, which are set in position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, when the device is being set up for operation. The tower section 8 is provided with stabilizing and supporting members 20, carrying jacks 20B. The members 20 are pivoted as at 21, to the tower section 8, and are supported, at the other end, by means of cables 22, or other suitable means, as shown in FIG. 1, when the portable asphalt plant is being transported from place to place. Upon arrival at a given destination, where it is desired to set up the asphalt plant for operation, the stabilizing devices 19 on the drier section 7, are first set in position as shown in FIG. 2. The bolts in the plates 16 are then removed from the drier section 7, so that the tower section 8 is free to pivot about the pivots 15A. The cable 23 is then pulled from the winch 13, and is brought into engagement with the pulleys 24, 25, 26, and 27 and the free end of the cable is made fast to the tower section, at the point 28, so that when the cable is wound on the winch 13, the cable is shortened, causing the right end of the tower section 8 to move upwardly, as shown in FIG. 3. As the right end of the tower section 8 moves upwardly, the tractor 10 backs up, to compensate for the movement of the tower section 8. During this operation the members 20 and the jacks 20B are not in contact with the ground and hang free on the pivots 26. When the tower section 8 has been moved into the vertical position, as shown in FIG. 4, the jack members 20B are lowered to the ground under the members 20, and adjusted to carry the load. The tractor 10 may then be removed, if desired, or it may remain in position to help carry the load, in which event the members 20 are then secured to the brackets 20A, on the tractor, by bolts 20C (FIG. 5) or by other suitable means. The end of the cable 23 is then removed from the fastening point 28, and the device is ready for operation, as shown in FIG. 4. The reference character 29 indicates a truck used in removing the asphalt from the plant.

It is believed that the operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a portable asphalt plant, including a drier section and a tower section, including an elevator, in articulated relation, the combination of mobile means for supporting said drier section and one end of said tower section, traction means for supporting the other end of said tower section, and means connecting said tower section to said traction means, for elevating one end of said tower section, said traction means comprising a tractor having brackets thereon for receiving supporting legs secured to said tower section.

' 2. In a device of the character described in combination, a drier section, wheels for supporting said drier section, a tower section including an elevator pivotably secured to said drier section, a tractor for supporting one end of said tower section, and means on said tractor or elevating said end of said tower section, said last named means including a winch mounted on said tractor, a cable on said winch, the free end of which cable is secured to said tower section near its pivot point with said drier section, and a pulley on said-tower section near said pivot point for receiving said cable.

3. In a device of the character described in combination, a drier section, wheels for supporting said drier section, a towersection, including an elevator, pivotably secured to said drier section, a tractor for supporting one end of said tower section, and means on said tractor for elevating said end of said tower section, said last named means including a Winch having a cable secured to said tower section, there being brackets on said tractor for receiving legs secured to said tower section, after said tower section has been elevated by said cable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,678,329 Clarke July 24, 1928 2,210,407 Henry Aug. 6, 1940 2,300,763 Athy Nov. 3, 1942 2,347,437 Saxe Apr. 25, 1944 2,650,727 Martin Sept. 1, 1953 2,679,322 Martinson May 25, 1954 2,682,957 Holmes July 6, 1954 2,689,137 Iddings Sept. 14, 1954 2,873,036 Noble Feb. 10, 1959 2,945,683 Martinson July 19, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 544,183 Germany Feb. 15, 1932 707,372 Germany June 20, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES German printed application, Hl6212 II/63c, May 24, 1956. 

